The Labour Party will promise to end the 'baptism barrier' to school entry if re-elected to the next government.

Tánaiste Joan Burton is desperate to regain traditional Labour voters with strong social policies in her election manifesto as some in her party feel outplayed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny in recent days on issues like abortion and low pay.

The Irish Independent has learned that Labour now wants to double the number of multi-denominational schools by 2021 and wants to amend the Equal Status laws to force schools to take children "regardless of their religion".

There is huge anecdotal evidence of parents baptising their children in order to get them a priority place in their local Catholic school, particularly in Labour's Dublin heartland.